A Writer’s Journal

Yesterday was a typically Mercury Retrograde day. I left early to go to the theatre and the train was over an hour late. They had the trains to Stamford running on the New York track and moved the train to New York on the Stamford track (an hour late) for no discernible reason except, perhaps, the dickhead making these types of decisions was bored, which is the way Metro North works around here.

It was worse for the people on the train – they’d toddled along to Old Greenwich and then the train was taken back to Stamford and just sat there, of course, with no explanation.

Metro North can BITE ME.

There was a mother with two lovely small children on the train. Usually small children on the train are anything but lovely, but these two were hilarious. The youngest boy was maybe three, if that, and the oldest about five or six. She’d brought books with them, and the oldest was learning how to read. So there was a reading lesson on the train and then just plain reading stories. They looked out the window sometimes and commented on what we passed (or didn’t pass, when the train simply sat). The youngest was all excited because they were headed into the city for some sort of family gathering, and he would eat egg salad sandwiches with his favorite cousin, Lexie. They were adorable, and proof that one can bring up children to act like actual human beings in public. This was a strong contrast to the brat on the train home at midnight (why the HELL is a toddler on a train at midnight, instead of home in bed) who SCREAMED the entire ride back, and the parents did nothing. Personally, I think they should have been put off the train. I had my music turned up to the highest decibel level, that hurt my ears and couldn’t hear it over that brat’s screeching. And it’s not like there was anything wrong – the kid simply liked the sound of her own screams.

I wound up working both shows instead of just one last night. Got a bunch of work done on one actor’s costume, so he’s all set for awhile. Had lots of fun kidding around with everyone. These past few days at the show were really fun and relaxed for me. Because I’m in percolation mode instead of under harsh deadline, I didn’t have to stress that theatre time cut into writing time. I could just enjoy being there, and make notes and do stuff for the writing in between. It was a good balance.

A group of us went to a Balinese restaurant for dinner, which was lots of fun, and then kidded around with the boys before the show (I dressed the boys again). It wouldn’t be funny to write what we joked about – it was one of those things that was funny in the moment, and you had to be there. If you weren’t there, you just wouldn’t get it.

I’d gone grocery shopping early in the morning, before leaving for the theatre – today will be about cooking ahead and freeze it for when I return next week.

Blogging will be sporadic this week. I’m in Maine for the first portion of it and Philadelphia for the second half of it. I’m going to start work on The Big Project and The Western tomorrow with the new moon – I had a breakthrough in the plot of the Western that I think will work well. And I’m definitely ready to write a few chapters on The Big Project, and then stop and outline the rest of it in more detail, and go back to it.

I’m going to do some work on ANGEL HUNT today, pack, do some prep work for the other two projects, maybe work on the ghost story and Billy’s story (as in Billy from HEX BREAKER).

But I’ll have a leisurely pace. Tomorrow, the new moon begins a new cycle, and I need to hit the ground running.

I’ll check in when I can.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

I’m posting this before I go to bed instead of when I get up, because I have to hit the ground running this morning (Saturday), and won’t get online before I have to leave for the theatre.

I’m reading a memoir. I should love it. It’s written by someone (previously unknown to me) with whom I seem to have a lot in common, as far as interests, work, etc. Unfortunately, I dislike the persona of the memoirist as it comes across in the book so much that I’m struggling. She spends so much time hurting her friends and people who love her and then justifying it, instead of apologizing and fixing it. There’s a point in one’s life, certainly by middle age and hopefully before, especially if you’ve been in therapy for god-knows-how-many-years, where you need to stop blaming the past and create your INDIVIDUAL life. Perhaps by the end of the book she does so; I don’t know I’ll get that far. Bluntly, by three-fourths of the way through the book, she does not earn the love and support of those around her, in fact she throws it back on their faces with deliberate cruelty and then makes excuses. I don’t like her, I probably won’t read her other books, and, if I manage to finish the book, it’ll go in the giveaway box. I was excited about this book, and it’s disappointing to have such a reaction. Fortunately, she’s a strong enough writer to incite such a reaction, but not in a way that makes me a fan of the work – or the person!

Compare that to the journals of May Sarton (currently, I’m re-reading RECOVERING): As annoyed as I get with her narcissim and her refusal to break out of unhealthy patterns, there’s enough in the journals that is outside herself, that shows insight, that shows interest in the world and how she processes it into her art, that I keep going back to them. She is not someone with whom I would have gotten along in person, but I can read and appreciate her work.

I put in the requested changes in TILL DEATH THEY DO PART and sent it off. I only disagreed with one, which I feel makes the particular character sound too much like the others and lose her unique cadence. So we’ll see how that goes. (Update: the producer thanked me for my input – I hope that means they’re going with my request).

Did some leisurely work on ANGEL HUNT and the Big Project. Read a lot. Had a calm day.

Did the show – dressed the boys tonight, including one of My Favorite People Ever. We have an excellent working rhythm together. The boys kept me busy – fixing a jacket, adding insoles, one popped a button during a big number and I fixed it at intermission – but it was all fun, all good, and I am fond of my boys. They’re very sweet. I’m in for the matinee again tomorrow, and then, hopefully, get a chance to hang out with a friend at night.

My friend is actually taking me grocery shopping first thing in the morning, picking up my laundry and DOING IT FOR ME while I’m at the show, and then we’ll have dinner together (if I’m not doing the evening show). How nice is that?

Because, you know, we are in the middle of Hurricane Kyle in all this. Or maybe he’s a tropical storm. I don’t know – I’m going to bed!

Way too much business – which meant busy-ness – yesterday. Necessary, but, I’d rather have spent the time being creative. Well, we don’t always get what we want in the way we want it, right?

Sorted out the payment stuff. Had a nice conversation with another editor for a publication for which I just began writing. Hopefully, we will continue to like each other and I can write for them semi-regularly.

Disengaged from some “aspiring” writers who spent far too much time making excuses for not writing. If they used the time they spent whining or watching reality television or internet surfing or gossiping or reading tabloids that are not only filled with lies but with bad writing, they’d be published by now. Change your habits, act like a professional, or leave me alone. We all have 24 hours in a day. How we use them defines us. I’m actually putting a clause in the coaching contract saying the client will be dropped for missing/being late on three assignments and there’s no room for “no time to write” in the relationship. Either you want to write or you don’t. If you want to write, get your butt in your chair and write. If you don’t, go find something else you love, stop whining, and, most importantly, don’t waste MY time. I could be writing, and whatever you’re paying me, it’s not enough to listen to you whine. Life will always get in the way. It’s up to you to figure out how to deal with it and still get the writing done.

I’m also sick and tired of the aspirants who pump for information and then, when hit with the reality of the writing life say, “Well, I don’t want it to be a JOB or anything.” Fine, honey, then go make your living at McDonald’s, because you won’t as a writer. And you know what? This is my job and I LOVE my job. Why shouldn’t I make a living doing something I LOVE? Why should I be punished because I resolved to follow my passion as my vocation? I LOVE working on Broadway, too, as much as I moan about it sometimes. It’s great to make a living doing what you love. If someone LOVES being an accountant, I am very excited for that person. If someone LOVES being a doctor, I’m very excited for that person. So why shouldn’t I, too, make a decent living doing what I love, especially since I have the same or greater commitment to my job as most accountants or doctors? This misplaced bitchy theory that if you love it you don’t deserve to get paid for it needs to stop. It’s perpetuated by cubicle slaves who don’t have the guts to live their dreams. They can’t stand to see anyone else live their dreams, so they get snarky. Middle finger to them!

Did a boatload of work on The Big Project and on a smaller project, a western, that’s due in a couple of months. I think I’ll be ready to start writing both next week – I’ll have laid enough ground work, the moon shifts to new which is a good time to start projects, I can feel them building up . . .all good. I do need to come up with a kick-ass villain for The Big Project. Ideas are swirling, but I have to nail down some definites, especially when it comes to motivation.

I’m sorting out ANGEL HUNT, getting through my notes, tossing some, truncating others. I still want to figure out a way to put more of Zeke in earlier on – he’s such a fascinating antagonist. He’s my favorite, of any antagonist I ever created. I need to have one more big scene and then start the sequence leading to the Big Finale. I’m cutting a bunch of stuff I considered putting in, but don’t really need. I’ll save it for other books with these characters, should it work out that way.

I refigured the opening of the ghost story. Now I have to write it down. It creeps ME out, so hopefully, it will do the same for the reader.

BEHIND THE MAN’S title has changed yet again – the producer wants to call it TILL DEATH THEY DO PART, which is fine with me, but, in my mind, kind of puts the focus on the wrong characters. But I’m using BEHIND THE MAN as the title of a mystery novel instead, the one I wanted to write last year for Nano that got bumped. I’m not sure when I’ll write it, but I’ve got a lot of it figured out in my head, so I’ll make notes over the next few weeks and see.

I’m see-sawing about Nano again. My gut tells me to skip it this year, I’ve got too much on my plate. On the other hand, I know I’ll really miss it, and I wonder if there’s a way to use it to get at least one of the deadlined projects done.

I just feel like waiting until November is too late for any of them, and I have a play due in the middle of November. So I’m dithering, and annoyed with myself for dithering.

I need to sit down, work steadily through October, and see where I am by the end of it. Then I can decide what still needs to be done, and whether Nano fits into the plan.

Trudged in to the city, swung by the theatre, picked up my check, caught up with people, headed home.

Today was supposed to be a no-writing/all errand-medical day; however, because of the storm, roads are flooded, and I had to cancel things. The car’s safe, I’m here, and have to get back into writing head to make use of this unexpected gift of time. I’ll probably take at least part of the day off to read or do something totally unrelated to writing, since today was designated as “off” – but, at the same time, there’s now a piece of open time, and that’s the best environment for me to write. So I won’t set any goals, just see what gets done.

I need to pack for both Maine and Philadelphia – next week will be busy!

Back to the page.

Update: I just got called to go into the show tonight, someone’s sick, so, unless the train line floods out, I’ll need to get back into “show head” by mid-afternoon.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

We’re supposed to have a big nor’eastern today – of course, I have to traipse around in the city this evening – but I’m taking my air conditioner out of the window this afternoon. It barely hangs in there anyway – no reason to tempt fate.

Someone asked me what the first question is I ask someone if I’m asked out on a date. My first question to anyone with whom I might get involved is, “Are you allergic to animals?” Because I won’t date someone who is. Period.
My second question is, “Do you like animals?” Far too often, people play the allergy card, when in reality, they just don’t like animals. Animals are a huge part of my life, so if you can’t deal, you can’t participate. I’ll have coffee with you, maybe even dinner, we can work together, but that’s as far as that will go.

Productive day yesterday, finally. Got the guest blog post written, finished the work for Confidential Job #1, got that off and the invoice, did more work on The Big Project, got a bunch of questions off to the Coordinating Editor, and finished another chapter of ANGEL HUNT.

This morning, the editor already had answers to all but one question, and she’s hunting down the answer to that one! Wow! I’m pretty excited.

I have to chase down a payment for something today, which is irritating. It’s even more irritating when a publication doesn’t follow their own guidelines. The publication was highly recommended, so I’m a bit disappointed.

Have to deal with some building paperwork. There’s going to be some major unpleasantness over the next few weeks, which I really don’t want to deal with, but I don’t have a choice.

Better get as much done as possible before the storm, since I already know I’ll have to trudge around in it again. And probably have to move the car in case it floods tonight.

Devon

Angel Hunt — 103,068 words out of est. 125,000

103 / 125(82.4%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Because I’d really rather not get into any trouble over the next few weeks.

Worked on ANGEL HUNT a bit yesterday, which was good, getting back into that groove.

Did a bunch of work on The Big Project.

Verizon actually showed up after lunch, and it was chaos. How many big, clumsy guys does it take to come in, drill a messy hole in the wall, pull cable, and fasten a box?

Four.

And they’re telling me I have to move the pot rack and do this and do that and I said, “No.” I pointed to the tiny spot where the cable for the television comes through and told them they could make their big old mess next to THAT. Of course, it was three feet higher, but at least it was in the general vicinity. I made it very clear that drilling holes in the apartment because it was convenient for THEM in the moment was not an option. This is MY home, where I LIVE every day, and they will put it where it’s convenient for ME. Or leave. I didn’t argue. I didn’t raise my voice. I simply told them the way it was. No negotiation. No wiggle room. This way or leave. They did it my way.

Because it’s a frigging cable, people, not a nuclear reactor. You can run it from ANYWHERE.

It’s not like I’m going to order Fios anyway. Building scumbags have forced this on us for the future fantasy tenants when they’ve driven all of us out. I wonder how big a kickback they got from Verizon.

In the midst of all the chaos, I got a call from my supervisor who asked me to come in and work the show tonight. So, as soon as I shooed Verizon out, I checked my bag, ate some dinner, and headed out, because on Tuesday we start at 7, not 8, which means call time is 5:30, which means I have to leave no later than 3:30.

Show was fine; everyone was glad to see me. All good.

Landed another guest blog spot, so I’ll work on that today and get it out, since I’m away next week. Have to do the work for Confidential Job #1. Lots of writing to get done, then I’ll break to run errands, then write some more. As far as I know, I’m not going in to the show tonight! 😉

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Yesterday was primarily a business day, which mean a busy-ness day. Not bad, all necessary. And it always takes me about a day to transition back into Full Writing Groove after a few intense days on the show.

I had a lovely conversation with my lovely producer for my play that opens in January. I’m excited. I look forward to seeing it. They’re still interested in THE MATILDA MURDERS, so I will go back and do another rewrite on that one. The producer is talking about opening it next September.

I haven’t quite figured out WHEN I’m going to do it, but it’ll get done.

Got a lot of work done on The Big Project and came up with some questions for the coordinating editor. I may need to start it before Nano, which means I’d be doing it instead of Nano, because it wouldn’t be something begun on the first day of November. (Insteado Nano?)

Ran some errands, which included getting more ink at Staples (which didn’t have any color ink, only b&w, and NO 3-hole punch paper), wine, and, well, it was supposed to be just a loaf of bread, but there was this chocolate mousse pie just sitting there all by itself looking lonely, and since I was roasting a chicken for the Equinox anyway . . .

Yeah.

Did some work for Confidential Job #1. It’s not due until next week, but I hope to get it done by tomorrow and out early.

I keep thinking I should be able to knock out the ghost story very quickly and then I just don’t’. So I’ll have to solve that problem in the next few days.

Preparing for my class. I want to do some tweaks in what I did last year, so the returnees get something new out of it.

Job boards didn’t have anything worthwhile on them. There was one publication listed for whom I’d like to work, but they pay so little that I really can’t afford it.

Our building is getting wired for Verizon Fios today, and I’m actually around. If they show up for this appointment (they never did for the last three), great. However, if they change their minds about where they want to run the line, I am showing them the door. I’m not getting Fios anyway, so they can just deal.

So I’m just going to sit here, working away; if they show, great; if they don’t, I’m still getting stuff done. Today’s a day I can be fine with it. If they’re no-shows, though . . .no more rescheduling.

I had a good weight training workout last night. I can feel how much progress I’ve made, strength-wise. I can also feel, this morning, while I know I worked the muscles hard, it’s not killing me, so that’s good. Cooling down with a yoga sequence after the workout helps a lot.

Back to the page.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

I was all excited about an interview that runs today and tomorrow and I go to check if it’s live this morning . . .and the interviewer’s got my GENDER wrong! In paragraph after paragraph.

First of all, part of a writer’s job is “never assume”. Check your facts.

Second, I talk about reading Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames, Beverly Gray, and the Little House on the Prairie books growing up. Um, I don’t know a lot of GUYS who do that, do you? Instead of assuming I’m a gay MALE because I work on Broadway, how about checking?

I pointed it out semi-diplomatically. If and when the correction is made, I’ll post the link.

I’m tired. I appreciate the good wishes, people, but tell me: Since I worked shows 14 hours a day on Saturday and Sunday, exactly WHEN was I supposed to get in that productive writing weekend you all talked about?

Shows were fine. My actors were as sweet and lovely as they could be. The interview with the actor/songwriter went VERY well – it’ll run in the Winter issue of THE SCRUFFY DOG REVIEW, and you guys will love it. He’s an extraordinarily talented human being, and one of my favorite people to work with.

I had dinner on Saturday between shows with some friends (some of whom came to the show later that night). We went to one of our favorite restaurants, Pepe Rosso, on W. 52nd St. Unfortunately, the manager’s wife brought their two toddlers into the restaurant. The brats screamed and shrieked non-stop the entire time they were there. They banged dishes with spoons. They smashed glassware. They ran around the tables screaming. It was behaviour completely inappropriate to a place of business, not to mention this was my one hour break in a 14 hour day and I was furious. We complained, AND I’m writing to the owners, stating that we WERE regular customers, but we will not be returning.

Sunday, we wandered the street fair. I bought some handmade soap. The rock-n-roll kid running the booth saw my triskele necklace and said, “Wow, you’re wearing the Led Zeppelin symbol.”

“Um, sweetie, this symbol is s a lot older than Led Zeppelin,” I retorted. “I know that’s hard to believe.”

Sheesh!

I’m about to embark on an exciting project that, if everything works out, will be pretty exciting in the long run. I can’t go into the details yet (sorry), so I’m calling it The Big Project. It needs more preparation than anything I’ve done to date, because I have to fit into material that’s already been created, although it also has to stand alone. I’m excited and I’m trying to absorb the information and make notes and formulate my part in it. And by Big Project, I mean around 75K.

I’ll have to reshuffle things to fit it into an already tight schedule, because it needs to be done sooner rather than later. I may do it as my Nano – but if I do, I’ll have to skip mentoring this year. Or maybe limit myself to three.

My grandmother and her brother have both taken a turn for the worse. Next week, I’ll head up to Maine before I head down to Philadelphia.

I have a phone appointment with my producer for the play opening in January at 10 AM, and then it’s back to the page. I’ve got a lot to get done today.

So far, I’m not booked for the show at all this week – we’ll see how long that lasts! 😉

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Late blogging start to the day, with some left over rants from yesterday.

The city’s summer ban on leaf blowers is done, so all these effing morons are walking around aiming leaf blowers at the pavement, even though there’s not a fallen leaf to be found. Leaf blowers should be banned entirely – they are smelly, noisy, ruin the quality of life, kick up dirt and germs everywhere. Use a frigging rake, people, or, on pavement, a broom!

I blew a potential job on Wednesday because I was careless. I have no one to blame but myself. I was frustrated because God forbid 1and1, my stupid webhost, could keep my mail open long enough for me to write an email pitch and actually send it. Why am I paying these people again? At least two or three hours per day, either the webmail or the websites aren’t working properly. I shouldn’t be booted off my mail after 3 minutes.

Anyway, I was in the process of sending and re-sending a batch of pitches and queries. This one particular job is something for which I’m totally qualified. Unfortunately, after I hit “send”, I realized that I was supposed to send the samples WITH the pitch; I’d stated that “samples will be sent upon request”. There’s no one to blame for that but myself, and I blew it. Don’t follow directions; don’t get the gig. That’s the way it works.

Got a couple of queries out yesterday (this time I followed the directions), so, hopefully, I’ll see some bites. I’m not scheduled at the show next week, I’m waiting for some checks, so I need to land some other stuff with short turnaround and quick payment. The job boards have really sucked lately, so I have to be more creative in my approach – which is next to impossible when I’m working shows. So, even though the wisdom is that, when you’re in the midst of a lot of work, you should pitch for more, when I’m working shows and putting in 14 hour days at the theatre, it doesn’t happen. There’s not enough brain power left for anything except the show and the writing that’s already on my plate. So, what I’m trying to do is get pitches out BEFORE I spend chunks of time at the show, in order to book jobs for AFTER I’m done.

I wrote my articles yesterday. One went out; the other I’m giving a final read and then sending out, too. I have to print out some information for the Tenants’ Organization. They’re having a meeting tonight; I’m working, but I’ve put together some info for them.

I’ve got some interesting opportunities in the works – the challenge will be scheduling them, and, at the same time, keeping enough short turnaround/immediate payment work going to keep the bills paid.

Show was fine yesterday; I had two swings on, but it was all good. People were happy to see me. I like being there, but it’s always a weird adjustment back and forth, and I’ve got a lot of writing to work out, so it’s a case of feeling slightly like a split personality.

I’m interviewing an actor/songwriter before the show tonight – that should be fun.

The work on ANGEL HUNT has slowed down considerably because it’s all new material, and I’m trying to match the style and tone, and still keep it moving. And I’ve got to sort out the other stuff – I’ve got the opening for Billy’s book (from the Jain Lazarus stories) finally straight in my head, but now I need to write it down.

I’ve got three manuscripts stacked in the submission queue, but I have to time the mailing properly.

At least I’m getting things finished. Every time I go back to an unfinished manuscript and finish it, I feel like an enormous weight was lifted.

Unfinished work drains creativity.

Back to the page.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

I know I put in a full day’s work yesterday; don’t seem to have much to show for it. Got caught up in piddly admin crap. Necessary, but I hate it.

Brandy brought up a very good point in my “public brainstorming” yesterday: What’s the point in having a holiday-themed story during an historical time period where the holiday wasn’t important?

Um, there isn’t. It’s called not thinking it all the way through. Extremely Clever Lit Fic writers could probably make it work, but I can’t. So that knocks characters from both CUTTHROAT CHARLOTTE and THE WIDOW’S CHAMBER out of contention.

I did manage to rough out a piece that, if I could knock it out, could be a new stretch AND go out by the end of the year, but I have to see how it fits in with everything else.

I have two articles to finish today before I leave for the show. Plus, I’d like to get some work done on ANGEL HUNT. I got SOME work done on it yesterday, but not enough to really make an impact.

I feel out of sorts today, that’s all. Not mad or upset or whatever, just out of sorts and restless.

Back to the page.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

Thanks for the suggestions regarding MySpace and Facebook. I don’t think Facebook will work for me – I can’t use the pseudonyms on it, I don’t do photographs, it will wind up being more frustrating than helpful.

I take plenty of photos of locales for my work, inspirations for my work, but I don’t think Facebook is right for me. I’m glad it’s a useful tool for people, but I think it’s counterproductive to what I do.

Another brainstorming question: Which of my sets of characters would you like to see in a Christmas/Yule/holiday story?

–Those from the Jain Lazarus adventures (Jain, Wyatt, Billy, etc.)?

–Those from the pirate fantasy “The Merry’s Dalliance”?

–Characters from any of the serials (THE WIDOW’S CHAMBER – Nora Cavanaugh and her family in pre-Civil War times – when Christmas was NOT a big celebration; TAPESTRY – the wacky, impulsive Nina Bell; ANGEL HUNT – Lianna, the staff of Moon Journeys, Lachlan, Gaston – and perhaps, even Zeke, although Zeke was not a known quantity when the serial ran? CUTTHROAT CHARLOTTE – Charlotte and her pirate crew – again, it’s set in a time period where the Yuletide holidays were not prominent?)?

— Clea, Toby, and their dogs Clarence and Lucky from the cycle of stories which began with “Dogs on Beach”?

–Cilla Martin, Jared Chase, and the cats, dogs, and other beasts from “Impressions”?

Of course, many of you didn’t even “know” me when they were published. So go read them already! 😉

Or would you like to see something funny/scary/romantic/poignant with completely new characters?

Yeah, I should have thought of this back in July; but I’m thinking of it now. I got a very interesting email in my box yesterday . . .and it got the wheels turning.

Can’t promise I’ll do what you say, but I’m willing to listen!

Most of yesterday was spent working on articles and working on web site stuff. I wanted to work on the new ebook and the ghost story, as well as doing more work on ANGEL HUNT, but it simply did not happen until later at night. I’m at the point where, as of today, it is ALL new material.

I’m still on the fence about Nano this year. I’m not sure if I should do it or not.

Back to the page. No show again tonight, although I have to take care of mundane chores like laundry and grocery shopping. But I should be able to get a good bit done.

Devon

Angel Hunt – 99,297 words out of est. 125,000

99 / 125(79.2%)

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

The final section of my interview is up at Gottawrite Girl. Come, stop by, leave a comment!

David Foster Wallace’s suicide saddens me. It doesn’t particularly surprise me – in the current climate of repression and conformity and the encouragement (via reality TV) t o be one’s worst self instead of one’s best, true originals wear out and lose the fight. I am sorry he was one of the casualties.

It took me a long time to get back into the writing sync yesterday. I did a lot of administrative stuff – things had come up that needed to be dealt with on that level – and it was late afternoon by the time I got back to ANGEL HUNT.

I went back and made some fixes. “Zig” is now “Zeke”, which is short for a name that has specific meaning within the context of ANGEL HUNT. The conflict between Zeke and Lianna is stronger, and their internal conflicts in regard to each other are also stronger – it’s a layer that’s working. well in the book. And the complexities of her relationships with Lachlan and Gaston also help. I’m about two chapters away from where I have to create entirely new material (although I’ve made some notes), and I’ve restructured and reworked the first twenty-three chapters so that everything drives to what will be the ending and point of the book (instead of the ending of an arc, as it would have been in the serial).

I need to plot the next PR push for HEX BREAKER, so that will be this week’s additional task. I’m hoping some more reviews come out in the next week or so, and I’m hoping that they’re good. I’m debating about whether or not to do a MySpace page for the book/series. Ideas? Suggestions? Since I have the subdomain on my website, do I need the site on MySpace? Does it make sense, or is it spreading myself too thin?

I’m also building a site for “The Merry’s Dalliance”. I still haven’t heard back from the editor about the broken link to the story. It’s been nearly two weeks since I asked about it. I was paid, so I guess I shouldn’t complain, but I would like everyone to read the piece, since I’m proud of it.

I actually watched television last night, for a change. I thought the season finale of THE CLOSER was excellent; excellence seems to be the norm for that show, which is such a relief. Two actors with whom I worked off-Broadway are in it, so in addition to liking it because I like it, I get to see two people who I like and respect both as people and as actors perform their art and their craft. I also watched RAISING THE BAR – some good work, one of the guest stars was excellent – he played Will, the schizophrenic – he looks familiar, I know his work from somewhere, although I don’t think I worked with him in any more than passing, and I couldn’t find out his name yet. Another actor with whom I worked on a series shot in NY a few years ago is one of the main characters, and I was pleased that he’s working again! In addition to being a good actor, he’s a lot of fun on the set. He’s one of those people who make everything better just with his presence. The lead lawyer guy, the three-named actor who plays Jerry, is good, but that hair is getting on my last nerve. Fine, you’re making a character statement with the hair, but the current style makes every shot about the hair instead of about the guy’s acting, and it’s distracting. A style can be found that makes the same statement, but also lets the guy ACT instead of the hair acting, which happens far too often here. It’s Bochco, so there’s a lot of good stuff in it, and I can learn a lot from watching it about both structure and style, but it’s not really grabbing me emotionally.

Today’s agenda consists of finishing up some business correspondence, getting some pitches out (the job boards have been abysmal lately), getting some BookMooch stuff to the post office, working on ANGEL HUNT, and, hopefully, on the ghost story. I’m also starting to transcribe the band interview I did last weekend. I want to be able to take the transcript with me to Philadelphia when I go back down there in a few weeks, and work on it in peace and quiet.

Chad, I’m excited about the voice recorder. Chances are, it will be primarily used for interviews – I can’t talk stories or story ideas – I have to pull over in the car and write them down!

I don’t have to be at the show tonight, so I hope I can get a lot done.

Devon

Devon’s Bookstore:

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, hoping to put to rest what was stirred up before more people die and the film is lost. Tough, practical Detective Wyatt East becomes her unlikely ally and lover on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
$4.00 ebook/ $6.00 on CD from Firedrakes Weyr Publishing.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.

5 in 10: Create 5 Short Stories in Ten Weeks by Devon Ellington. This ebooklet takes you from inspiration to writing to revision to marketing. By the end of ten weeks, you will have either 5 short stories or a good chunk of a novella complete. And it’s only 50 cents, USD. Here.

Writing Rituals: Ideas to Support Creativity by Cerridwen Iris Shea. This ebooklet contains several rituals to help you start writing, get you through writer’s block, and help send your work on its way. It’s only 39 cents USD. (Note: Cerridwen Iris Shea is one of the six names under which I publish). Here.

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. This is a collection of short stories, poems, and other pieces by a writers’ group of which I am a member. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois. You can download it free here:

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NMLC’s Mermaid Ball August 11, 2017

Devon’s Random Newsletter

To get Devon's Random Newsletter, send an email to devonsrandomnewsletter at gmail dot com with "Subscribe" in the header.

Devon’s Bookstore

GWEN FINNEGAN MYSTERIES

Archaeologist Dr. Gwen Finnegan is on the hunt for her lover’s killer. Historical researcher Justin Yates bumps into her, on the steps of the New York Public Library. The shy historian, frustrated with his failing relationship, jumps at the chance to join her on a real adventure through Europe, pursued by factions including Gwen’s ex-lover and nemesis, Karl, as they try to unspool fact from fiction in a multi-generational obsession with a statue of the goddess Medusa.
Buy links here.

NAUTICAL NAMASTE MYSTERIES

SAVASANA AT SEA

Yoga instructor Sophie Batchelder jumps at the chance to teach on a cruise ship when she loses her job and her boyfriend dumps her in the same day. But when her boss is murdered, and the crew thinks she's taking over her predecessor's blackmail scheme, Sophie must figure out who the real killer is -- before he turns her into a corpse, too. A Not-Quite-Cozy Mystery.
Buy Links here.

COVENTINA CIRCLE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

PLAYING THE ANGLES
Witchcraft, politics, and theatre collide as Morag D’Anneville and Secret Service agent Simon Keane fight to protect the Vice President of the United States -- or is it Morag who needs Simon’s protection more than the VP?
Buy links here.

THE JAIN LAZARUS ADVENTURES

Hex Breaker by Devon Ellington. A Jain Lazarus Adventure. Hex Breaker Jain Lazarus joins the crew of a cursed film, teaming with tough, practical Detective Wyatt East on an adventure fighting zombies, ceremonial magicians, the town wife-beater, the messenger of the gods, and their own pasts.
Available from Solstice Publishing and Amazon Kindle.
Visit the site for the Jain Lazarus adventures.</a

Full Circle: An Ars Concordia Anthology. Edited by Colin Galbraith. My story is “Pauvre Bob”, set at Arlington Race Track in Illinois is included in this wonderful collection of short stories and poetry. You can download it free here.